>> >> COMING
>> COMING UP ON >> COMING UP ON 11
YEARS >> COMING UP ON 11 YEARS NEXT
WEEK.
WEEK.
WEEK. >>
WEEK. >> THIS TIME OF YEA
WEEK. >> THIS TIME OF YEAR I GET
TRIGGERED.
TRIGGERED. >> MY MOM DIE
TRIGGERED. >> MY MOM DIED.
>> IS THAT RIGHT?
>> Reporter: EVERY PERSON ON
THIS HIKE IN TO
>> Reporter: EVERY PERSON ON THIS HIKE IN TORONTO HAS LOST
SOMEONE THEY LOVE.
>> YOU FEEL THAT YOU'RE IN A
MULTIPLE UNIVERSE, YOU REALLY
DO.
DO.
DO. >>
DO. >> IT'S A SHOCK.
IT ALL SUCKS.
>> OH, IT AL
IT ALL SUCKS. >> OH, IT ALL S
IT ALL SUCKS. >> OH, IT ALL SUCKS.
>> Reporter: GRIEF IS A JOURNEY
AND PEOPLE TAKE DIFFERENT PATHS
BUT CAN SOMEONE BE GRIEVING FOR
TOO LONG?
TOO LONG?
TOO LONG? >> I'M NOT READY TO GO THROUGH
THAT YET, TO LOOK AT IT.
>> FOR ME IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG
TIME.
TIME.
TIME. >>
TIME. >> Reporter: THE AMERICAN
PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION RECENTLY
SAID, YES, PEOPLE CAN NO
PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION RECENTLY SAID, YES, PEOPLE CAN NOW BE
DIAGNOSED WITH PROLONGED GRIEF
DISORDER.
DISORDER.
DISORDER. EVEN AMONG PSYCHIATRISTS, IT'S
HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL.
HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL. >> YOU SHOULDN'T GET A MEN
HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL. >> YOU SHOULDN'T GET A MENTAL
DISORDER DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE YOU
GRIEVE FOR SOMEONE THAT YOU L
DISORDER DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE YOU GRIEVE FOR SOMEONE THAT YOU LOVE
FOR MORE THAN 12 MONTHS.
>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT ATTAC
FOR MORE THAN 12 MONTHS. >> THIS ISN'T ABOUT ATTACHING
LABELS TO PEOPLE.
ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DA
LABELS TO PEOPLE. ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
IS WHO CAN W
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS WHO CAN WE HELP AN
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS WHO CAN WE HELP AND HOW CA
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS WHO CAN WE HELP AND HOW CAN
WE HELP THEM AND RECOGNISING
THIS DISORDER IS A STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTI
THIS DISORDER IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
RIGHT DIRECTION. >> Reporter: RESEARCHERS INSIST
THAT PROLONGED GRIEF DISORDER
APPLIES TO A SMALL GROUP OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
INTENSE DISTRESS FOR AT LEAST A
YEAR AFTER THE LOSS O
INTENSE DISTRESS FOR AT LEAST A YEAR AFTER THE LOSS OF THEIR
LOVED ONE.
LOVED ONE. BUT OTHERS ARGUE THIS DISORDER
IS MED
BUT OTHERS ARGUE THIS DISORDER IS MEDICALIZING AND EVEN
STIGMATIZING NORMAL HUMAN
EMOTIONS.
EMOTIONS.
EMOTIONS. (♪♪)
(♪♪)
(♪♪) >>
(♪♪) >> OUR FIRST YEAR I KEPT
THINKING IF WE CAN MAKE IT PAST
THIS FIRST YEAR, T
THINKING IF WE CAN MAKE IT PAST THIS FIRST YEAR, THINGS WILL BE
EASIER.
EASIER.
EASIER. BUT IT DOESN'T GET EASIER
BECAUSE IT'S STILL HIS BIRTHDAY,
EVEN IF IT'S NOT THE FIRST YEAR,
IT'S THE SECON
EVEN IF IT'S NOT THE FIRST YEAR, IT'S THE SECOND BIRTHDAY, IT'S
THE THIRD BI
IT'S THE SECOND BIRTHDAY, IT'S THE THIRD BIRTHDAY O
IT'S THE SECOND BIRTHDAY, IT'S THE THIRD BIRTHDAY OR THE FOURTH
BIRTHDAY AND IT'S STILL HIS
BIRTHDAY AND IT'S S
BIRTHDAY AND IT'S STILL HIS BIRTHDAY AND IT'S STILL
CHRISTMAS AND HE'S NOT HERE
BIRTHDAY AND IT'S STILL CHRISTMAS AND HE'S NOT HERE.
>> Reporter: PAULETTE'S SON JEFF
WAS 34 YEARS OLD.
HE DIED SUDDENLY IN TH
WAS 34 YEARS OLD. HE DIED SUDDENLY IN THE SUMMER
OF 2015 FROM COMPLIC
HE DIED SUDDENLY IN THE SUMMER OF 2015 FROM COMPLICATIONS
RELATING TO DIABETES.
>> IT WAS JUST IN HIS SLEEP AND
THEY SAID VERY QUICKLY AND IT
WAS HIS HEART
THEY SAID VERY QUICKLY AND IT WAS HIS HEART.
>> Reporter: HER GRIEF DIDN'T
END AFTER A YEAR AND SHE'
>> Reporter: HER GRIEF DIDN'T END AFTER A YEAR AND SHE'S NOT
SURE IT EVE
END AFTER A YEAR AND SHE'S NOT SURE IT EVER WILL.
>> BECAUSE YOUR GRIEF IS YOUR
GRIEF.
GRIEF.
GRIEF. AND YOU DON'T H
GRIEF. AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY C
GRIEF. AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL
OVER HOW THAT A
AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER HOW THAT AFFECTS YOU.
NO MATTER HOW MANY B
OVER HOW THAT AFFECTS YOU. NO MATTER HOW MANY BOO
OVER HOW THAT AFFECTS YOU. NO MATTER HOW MANY BOOKS YOU
READ, OR HO
NO MATTER HOW MANY BOOKS YOU READ, OR HOW MANY COUNSELORS YOU
GO TO OR HOW MANY P
READ, OR HOW MANY COUNSELORS YOU GO TO OR HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU
SEE, IT'S STILL YOUR GRIEF.
>> THIS IS A DEBATE THAT
STRETCHES FOR DECAD
>> THIS IS A DEBATE THAT STRETCHES FOR DECADES.
>> Reporter: DR. DAVID GRATSER
IS A PSYCHIATRIST FROM THE
CENTRE FOR ADDICTION AND MENTAL
HEALTH IN TORONTO.
>> THIS IS THE NEW VERSION, THIS
IS THE FIRST UPDATE IN NINE
YEARS.
YEARS.
YEARS. >>
YEARS. >> Reporter: PROLONGED GRIEF
DISORDER HAS NOW BEEN ADDED TO
PSYCHIATRY'S BIG BOOK, THE
DIAGNOSTIC STATISTICAL MANUAL OR
DSM.
DSM.
DSM. >>
DSM. >> IT'S A COLLECTION OF
DISORDERS AND DESCRIPTIONS.
>> Reporter: RESEARCHERS
ESTIMATE THAT PROLONGED GRIEF
AFFECTS ROU
ESTIMATE THAT PROLONGED GRIEF AFFECTS ROUGHLY 10
ESTIMATE THAT PROLONGED GRIEF AFFECTS ROUGHLY 10% OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE GRIEVING, P
AFFECTS ROUGHLY 10% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GRIEVING, PUTTING THEM
AT RISK OF POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH,
SHORTENED LIFE EX
AT RISK OF POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH, SHORTENED LIFE EXPECTA
AT RISK OF POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH, SHORTENED LIFE EXPECTANCY, AND
SUICIDE.
SUICIDE.
SUICIDE. >> SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE ABLE TO
GO BACK TO WORK AFTER A MONTH
AND OTHERS MIGHT NOT.
THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG.
BUT THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING A
LITTLE DIFFERENT WHEN PEOPLE
HAVE STRUGGLED MORE TH
LITTLE DIFFERENT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE STRUGGLED MORE THAN A YEAR
AND THEY'RE NOT FUNCTIONAL,
WHICH IS WHAT THIS DISORDER IS
ABOUT.
ABOUT.
ABOUT. >>
ABOUT. >> Reporter: TREATMENTS CAN
INCLUDE TARGETED PSYC
>> Reporter: TREATMENTS CAN INCLUDE TARGETED PSYCHOT
>> Reporter: TREATMENTS CAN INCLUDE TARGETED PSYCHOTHERAPY
AND MEDICATION, WH
INCLUDE TARGETED PSYCHOTHERAPY AND MEDICATION, WHICH CAN NOW BE
COVERED UNDER INSURANCE.
>> THE DIA
COVERED UNDER INSURANCE. >> THE DIAGNOSIS THAT WORKS VERY
WELL IN THE HANDS OF EXPERTS CAN
BE AN ABSOLUTE DISA
WELL IN THE HANDS OF EXPERTS CAN BE AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER WHEN IT
HITS THE REAL WORLD.
THE STRESS IS PART OF THE HUMAN
CONDITION.
CONDITION. >> Reporter: DR. ALAN FRANCIS IS
A PROFESSOR A
>> Reporter: DR. ALAN FRANCIS IS A PROFESSOR AT DUKE U
>> Reporter: DR. ALAN FRANCIS IS A PROFESSOR AT DUKE UNIVERSITY.
>> SOME OF THE
A PROFESSOR AT DUKE UNIVERSITY. >> SOME OF THEM WILL D
A PROFESSOR AT DUKE UNIVERSITY. >> SOME OF THEM WILL DEFINITELY
NEED AND BENEFIT GRE
>> SOME OF THEM WILL DEFINITELY NEED AND BENEFIT GREATLY FROM
PSYCHOTHERAPY, TALKING ABOUT THE
GRIEF IS USUALLY THE BEST WAY OF
COMING TO TER
GRIEF IS USUALLY THE BEST WAY OF COMING TO TERMS WITH IT, RATHER
THAN HIDING IT.
>> Reporter: BUT HE THINKS T
THAN HIDING IT. >> Reporter: BUT HE THINKS THAT
DRUG COMPANIES WILL BENEFIT MORE
FROM THIS DIAGNOSIS THAN T
DRUG COMPANIES WILL BENEFIT MORE FROM THIS DIAGNOSIS THAN THOSE
WHO ARE GRIEVING.
>> FOR THEM TO BE TO
WHO ARE GRIEVING. >> FOR THEM TO BE TOLD OH,
YOU'RE MENTALLY ILL AND MOST
OFTEN THAT YOU NEED A MEDICATION
IS -- I THINK TH
OFTEN THAT YOU NEED A MEDICATION IS -- I THINK THAT IT IS
DISGRACEFUL IN TER
IS -- I THINK THAT IT IS DISGRACEFUL IN TERMS OF
DISRESPECTING THE LOVE THAT THEY
FELT FOR THE PERSON WHO IS LOST.
>> I LOST MY HUSBAND AND MY
FUTURE, LIKE, PRE
>> I LOST MY HUSBAND AND MY FUTURE, LIKE, PRETTY MUCH IN
ABOUT A SECOND.
>> Reporter: JUSTINE SILVER'S
HUSBAND STEWART WAS ONLY 44
YEARS OLD WHEN HE DIED IN 2011.
>> HE WAS THROWING UP, WHICH IS
A SIGN OF ANYTHING.
WE THOUGHT AS WE W
A SIGN OF ANYTHING. WE THOUGHT AS WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT SHOULD WE TAKE HIM TO, YOU
KNOW, TO A F
ABOUT SHOULD WE TAKE HIM TO, YOU KNOW, TO A FAMILY DOCTOR OR
WHATNOT, HE DIED.
LIKE, IN THE M
WHATNOT, HE DIED. LIKE, IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR
CONVERSATION.
CONVERSATION. I FEEL LI
CONVERSATION. I FEEL LIKE I CAN PUT H
CONVERSATION. I FEEL LIKE I CAN PUT HIS STUFF
AROUND ME --
>> Reporter: YOU KNOW, DOCTORS
TOLD HER THAT IT WAS A HEART
ATTACK.
ATTACK.
ATTACK. IT HAPPENED YEARS AGO, BUT SHE
STILL WRAPS HER
IT HAPPENED YEARS AGO, BUT SHE STILL WRAPS HERSELF IN HIS
MEMORIES.
MEMORIES.
MEMORIES. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I
DID NOT USE A
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I DID NOT USE ALL OF HIS JEANS,
THERE WERE ANOTHER 18 PAIRS.
HERE WE ARE UP ON OUR CHAIRS.
WE WERE H
HERE WE ARE UP ON OUR CHAIRS. WE WERE HAV
HERE WE ARE UP ON OUR CHAIRS. WE WERE HAVING SUCH A GOOD TIME
AND WE'RE SO HAPPY.
>> Reporter: SILVER DIDN'T THINK
THAT SHE'D MEET THE CRITERIA FOR
PROLONGED GRIEF DISORDER B
THAT SHE'D MEET THE CRITERIA FOR PROLONGED GRIEF DISORDER BU
THAT SHE'D MEET THE CRITERIA FOR PROLONGED GRIEF DISORDER BUT
IT'S BROADER THAN SHE THOUGHT.
>> I KNOW THAT IT'S HARD TO
REMEMBER, BUT GIVE ME A SENSE IF
THESE CRITERIA YOU WOULD SAY YES
TO A YEAR AFTER STEWA
THESE CRITERIA YOU WOULD SAY YES TO A YEAR AFTER STEWART'S DEATH.
INTENSE YEARNING AND LO
TO A YEAR AFTER STEWART'S DEATH. INTENSE YEARNING AND LONGING FOR
THE DECEASED PERSON?
>> YES.
>> YES.
>> YES. >> Reporter: AND PREOCCUPATION
WITH THOUGHTS OR MEMORIES OF THE
DECEASED PERSON?
DECEASED PERSON? >> I'M GOING TO SAY OF COURSE.
>> Reporter: INTENSE EMOTIONAL
PAIN, ANGER, BITTERNESS, SORROW
RELATED TO THE DEATH?
>> CAN I SAY DUH, LIKE, OF
COURSE.
COURSE.
COURSE. OF COURSE I'M HAVI
COURSE. OF COURSE I'M HAVING ALL OF
THOSE THINGS.
THOSE THINGS. AND THEY'RE NORMAL REACTIONS.
THE BIGGE
AND THEY'RE NORMAL REACTIONS. THE BIGGEST FEAR THAT I HAVE IS
SOMEONE BEING GI
THE BIGGEST FEAR THAT I HAVE IS SOMEONE BEING GIVEN THAT
DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THEY'LL FEEL
THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH
THEM.
THEM.
THEM. THEY'LL FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT
GRIEVING RIGHT, THAT THEIR
EXPERIENCES AR
GRIEVING RIGHT, THAT THEIR EXPERIENCES ARE NOT NORMAL.
>> Reporter: WE TEND TO
EXPERIENCES ARE NOT NORMAL. .
EXPERIENCES ARE NOT NORMAL. >> WE TEND TO BE REALLY DEATH
DENYING AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO
GET OVER THE DEATH QUICKLY SO I
THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTU
GET OVER THE DEATH QUICKLY SO I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
EDUCATION.
EDUCATION. >> Reporter: SHE FEELS THAT THE
PROLONGED GRIEF DIA
>> Reporter: SHE FEELS THAT THE PROLONGED GRIEF DIAGNOSIS CAN
HELP A SELECT G
PROLONGED GRIEF DIAGNOSIS CAN HELP A SELECT GROUP OF PE
PROLONGED GRIEF DIAGNOSIS CAN HELP A SELECT GROUP OF PEOPLE.
BUT M
HELP A SELECT GROUP OF PEOPLE. BUT MOST PE
HELP A SELECT GROUP OF PEOPLE. BUT MOST PEOPLE WHO H
HELP A SELECT GROUP OF PEOPLE. BUT MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST
SOMEONE NEED OUR PATIENC
BUT MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST SOMEONE NEED OUR PATIENCE.
THEY CAN'T BE PUSHED TO BE OKAY,
OR MOVE ON FROM THEIR LO
THEY CAN'T BE PUSHED TO BE OKAY, OR MOVE ON FROM THEIR LOSS.
>> IT IS NECESSARY TO FEE
OR MOVE ON FROM THEIR LOSS. >> IT IS NECESSARY TO FEEL THE
PAIN AND THAT PAIN CAN BE ALL
OVER THE MAP.
ANGER, FRUSTRATION, GUILT,
SADNESS, REMORSE, MANY DIFF
ANGER, FRUSTRATION, GUILT, SADNESS, REMORSE, MANY DIFFERENT
FEELINGS.
FEELINGS.
FEELINGS. BUT THEY HAVE TO BE EX
FEELINGS. BUT THEY HAVE TO BE EXPERIE
FEELINGS. BUT THEY HAVE TO BE EXPERIENCED.
(♪♪)
(♪♪)
(♪♪) >>
(♪♪) >> ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE
BEREAVED AND EV
>> ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE BEREAVED AND EVERYTHING IS
AWKWARD AND NEW, IT CAN MAKE
SUCH A DIFFERENCE TO BE AROUND
OTHER PEOPLE.
OTHER PEOPLE. >> Reporter: THE CONTROVERSY
AROUND PROLONGED GRIEF DISORDER
IS AN EMOTIONAL ONE.
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST SOMEONE
DON'T WANT TO FORG
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST SOMEONE DON'T WANT TO FORGET T
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST SOMEONE DON'T WANT TO FORGET THEM.
THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR M
DON'T WANT TO FORGET THEM. THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR MEMORY
ALIVE BECAUSE THEIR LOVE
CONTINUES TO LIVE ON.
CHRISTINE BIRAK, CBC CONTINUES TO LIVE ON. CHRISTINE BIRAK, CBC NEWS, CHRISTINE BIRAK, CBC NEWS, TORONTO.